Cornus plant named ‘Neil Z’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cornus  plant named ‘Neil Z’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; and thick, glossy, relatively small and rugose leaves.

Botanical designation: Cornus sericea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘NEIL Z’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cornus plant, commercially produced as an ornamental shrub, botanically known as Cornus sericea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Neil Z’.

The new Cornus plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Cornus sericea (also known as Cornus stolonifera), not patented. The new Cornus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the unnamed selection in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Cincinnati, Ohio in June, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cornus plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Cincinnati, Ohio since June, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Cornus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cornus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Neil Z’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Neil Z’ as a new and distinct Cornus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Thick, glossy, relatively small and rugose leaves.

Plants of the new Cornus differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cornus are more compact than plants of the         parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Cornus are glossier than leaves         of plants of the parent selection.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Cornus are thicker and more         rugose than leaves of plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Cornus can also be compared to plants of Cornus sanguinea ‘Compressa’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Cornus differ primarily from plants of ‘Compressa’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cornus are faster growing than plants of         ‘Compressa’.     -   2. Plants of the new Cornus are more cold hardy than plants of         ‘Compressa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cornus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cornus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Neil Z’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical lateral branch of ‘Neil Z’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in one-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 23° C. and night temperatures ranged from 1° C. to 15° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cornus sericea ‘Neil Z’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     selection of Cornus sericea (also known as Cornus stolonifera), not     patented. -   Rooting description:     -   -   Type of cutting.—Softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 25 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and compact deciduous             shrub; slightly outwardly spreading; freely branching habit             with about 23 lateral branches developing per plant;             pinching enhances lateral branch development; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 125 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 75 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Erect to about 30° from vertical. Texture, new growth:             Pubescent. Texture, mature stems: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             developing stems, summer: Close to 144A. Color, developing             stems, winter: Close to 59A. Color, fully developed stems:             Close to 201A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic to ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose; mostly glabrous;             upper surface of developing leaves, pubescent.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, summer.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             142B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A to 139B;             venation, close to 139B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to 138A.         -   Color, autumn.—Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to 139B; venation, close to 139B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Cornus. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Cornus have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cornus. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Cornus have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to     USDA Hardiness Zone 3. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cornus plant named ‘Neil Z’ as illustrated and described. 